DATE=12/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243522
TITLE=IRAQ SATURDAY UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

 (EDS: WATCH CN WIRE FOR UPDATES)

INTRO: IRAQ SAYS ITS AIR DEFENSE FORCES HAVE REPELLED AN 
INCURSION BY WESTERN WAR PLANES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE U-S AND 
BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ ONE WEEK AGO.  CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT 
ALLIED FORCES, WHICH ROUTINELY PATROL PARTS OF NORTHERN AND 
SOUTHERN IRAQ, SAY THEY HAVE  NO  KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH INCIDENT.

TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY QUOTES A DEFENSE OFFICIAL AS SAYING 
THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE AROUND MID-DAY SATURDAY.  IT SAYS THE 
PLANES WERE "CONFRONTED" BY IRAQI AIR DEFENSE FORCES, A TERM 
USUALLY MEANING THAT THEY WERE FIRED UPON.

THE IRAQI OFFICIAL DID NOT SAY WHERE THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, 
ONLY THAT THE PLANES CAME FROM KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA.  U-S AND 
BRITISH FORCES PATROL A NO-FLY ZONE IN SOUTHERN IRAQ FROM BASES 
IN THESE TWO COUNTRIES.

THE REPORTED INCIDENT CAME ONE WEEK AFTER U-S AND BRITISH FORCES 
HALTED AIR RAIDS THAT STRUCK NEARLY 100 TARGETS IN IRAQ.

THE ATTACKS WERE CRITICIZED BY MANY GOVERNMENTS AND BROUGHT ANGRY
DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANY ARAB COUNTRIES.  IRAQIS HAVE EXPRESSED 
RELIEF THE ATTACKS ARE OVER, BUT REMAIN DEFIANT OVER EFFORTS TO 
MONITOR AND DISMANTLE IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

BAGHDAD'S INFLUENTIAL BABEL NEWSPAPER SATURDAY REITERATED THE 
IRAQI POSITION THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO
RETURN TO IRAQ.  AND IT PREDICTED THAT CHIEF U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER, WHOSE REPORT LED TO THE AIR STRIKES, 
WILL BE REPLACED.

IRAQI NEWSPAPERS SAID FRIDAY THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT ALLOW 
ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES, IF ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS ARE LIFTED. BUT THEY DISMISSED CALLS FROM WASHINGTON 
AND LONDON THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS WILL BE LIFTED ONLY AFTER FULL
INSPECTIONS HAVE RESUMED.

/// REST OPT ///  POLITICAL OBSERVERS IN THE REGION NOTE THAT ONE
WEEK AFTER THE END OF THE AIR STRIKES, ARAB POSITIONS HAVE 
HARDENED OVER POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.

VIRTUALLY ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS ARE NOW CALLING FOR AN END TO THE 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY HAVE ONLY SERVED TO WEAKEN THE 
IRAQI PEOPLE, WHILE STRENGTHENING THE IRAQI REGIME.

MANY GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION BELIEVE IRAQ NO LONGER REPRESENTS 
A MILITARY THREAT TO THE REGION.  THEY SAY NEW DIPLOMATIC 
OVERTURES SHOULD BE LAUNCHED TO RESTORE IRAQ'S POSITION IN THE 
ARAB COMMUNITY, PROVIDED IT ABANDONS ITS AGGRESSIVE POLICIES.

MANY ARAB LEADERS PRIVATELY ARE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT A 
MILITARY OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED BY TWO WORLD POWERS WITHOUT THE 
CONSENT OF THEIR PARTNERS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AND DESPITE
OPPOSITION FROM A LARGE NUMBER OF NATIONS OF THE WORLD.

THEY SEE THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AS DIVIDED OVER POLICY TOWARD 
IRAQ FOR WEEKS TO COME.  AS A RESULT, THEY FORESEE LITTLE ACTION 
BY U-N MEDIATORS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE VIOLENCE IF A RETURN
TO DIPLOMACY IS DELAYED. (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/DW/GE

26-Dec-98 11:17 AM EST (1617 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.